Lower Macungie 400-home development finally on fast-track

April 19, 2013 at 12:00 PM
- Last modified: April 19, 2013 at 12:35 PM

Recent approval by the Lower Macungie Board of Commissioners for David Jaindl's Spring Creek Properties development in Lower Macungie shows a long-stalled project finally moving forward. Earlier this month, the commissioners approved the settlement agreement regarding the appeal of Spring Creek Properties. The mixed-use project had been in litigation for three years.

The developer created a settlement agreement that proposed a Plan B, which essentially added enhancements, including preserving almost one-third of land for the 700-acre project for recreation and open space, an important consideration for any development of this size and scope.

Highlights of the new plan, straight from Jaindl, include a reduction in the overall density of development, a decrease by more than half of the number of proposed homes from nearly 900 to 400, a transfer from public ownership to private ownership of about one mile of new-road creation, a site for a community fire station and relocation of the 78.5-acre new recreation area to a site more convenient for public access.

The company also will install about $15 million in infrastructure improvements, and all of the improvements will be paid for by the land company.

As Jaindl said, the development will expand the tax base, benefit the school district and add new construction jobs and permanent employment opportunities to the growing region.

It appears to be a plan that makes sense for the residential, commercial and industrial growth that will make the Valley continue to thrive.

With the settlement of this litigation, the project looks ready to spring forth.